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Idaho teacher disarmed school shooter, hugged her until help came

The Rigby Middle School teacher said she just tried to let the girl know they would get through it together.
Credit: AP
A police officer walks out of Rigby Middle School following a shooting there earlier Thursday, May 6, 2021, in Rigby, Idaho. Authorities said that two students and a custodian were injured, and a female student has been taken into custody. (AP Photo/Natalie Behring)

RIGBY, Idaho — When a student opened fire at an Idaho middle school, teacher Krista Gneiting directed children to safety, rushed to help a wounded victim and then calmly disarmed the sixth-grade shooter, hugging and consoling the girl until police arrived. 

While two students and the school custodian were shot on May 6, all three survived. 

Gneiting talked about the school shooting in an interview with ABC News that aired Wednesday on "Good Morning America." 

She said she knew the child had a mom somewhere who wasn't aware the girl was in crisis. Gneiting said she just tried to let the girl know they would get through it together.

Sheriff Anderson said in a press conference that two of the victims were shot inside the school and the third was shot outside the building, starting in a hallway and went outside.

The shooting started when this suspect pulled out a handgun from their backpack and started shooting. They kept firing when they exited the school and that is when Gneiting disarmed them. The entire incident lasted about five minutes, according to Sheriff Anderson.

    

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